Switch-stand.



PATENTED DEC l, 17903'.

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Patented December 1, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE,

JOSEPH PERKINS FRANKS, OE WAINRIGHT, GEORGIA.

SWITCH-STAN D.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 745,590, dated December1, 1903. Application led September 18, 1903. Serial llo. 173.714. (Nomodel.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOSEPH PERKINS' FRANKS, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residand State of Georgia, have invented a new and usefulSwitch-Stand, of which the following is a speciication.

This invention relates to improvements in railway switch-stands andlocking devices for the target-rod and operating mechanism, the objectbeing to provide an apparatus which will be automatically locked whenthe switchoperating lever is set into itsseveral positions, the lockingmeans being releasable only by a specially-formed key.

The advantages of the invention, together with further objects, willappear in the annexed description and be speciiied in the claimsfollowing.

In the drawings illustrative of the invention, in which correspondingparts are denoted by like designating characters, Figure 1 is asectional elevation. Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 2 2 ofFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the upper portion of the stand.

The improved device comprises a casing or base member 10, having lateralfeet 11 for engagement with the ties or other supports adjacent to theswitch-rail to be moved. The stand is hollow and without access theretofrom the exterior except by' removing one side, as at 12, the interiorof the stand being utilized to hold the locking means where it is notonly entirely concealed from view, but protected from the weatheror frombeing tampered with by unauthorized persons.

Supported vertically for rotation through the casing or stand is theswitch-operating shaft 13, provided on its lower end beneath the standwith a crank-arm let and extended at its upper end into a target-rod 15of the usual form. The target portions and the switch connections arenot shown, as they form no part of the present invention.

The upper end of the stand l0 is formed with radiating recesses 16, andslidably disposed upou the rod above the stand is a sleeve 17, havinglugs 1S for engagement with the recesses 16. The rod above the stand ispreferably square, as shown, and the sleeve tits this square portion, sothat while the sleeve is free to slide longitudinally of the rod it`will rotate with it.

The arm 111 is connected in the ordinary manner to rthe switch-pointswhich are to be moved and will be of proper length to move the pointsthe proper distance when the arm is moved one-fourthof a full revolutionof the rod 12, and by arranging the recesses 16 and lugs 18 at rightangles to each other the arm 14C will be firmly supported in its twopositions when the sleeve 17 is alternately set in its two positionsrelative to the stand, as will be obvious.

Pivotally connected at 19 to the rod portion 15 above the sleeve 17 isan operatinglever 20, connected movably to the sleeve by straps 21. Bythis arrangement it will be obvious when the free end of the lever-armis Y elevated the sleeve 17 will be correspondingly elevated by thestraps 21, which movement will release the lugs 18 and permit the rod tobe rotated to throw the switch into either of its two positions, andthen when the leverarm is again lowered the lugs ywill again engage therecesses and lock the switch in its new position.` l

The lower portion of the lever-arm 20 is provided with a notched arm 22,adapted to pass through an aperture 23 or 21 in the side walls of thestand in position to be engaged by the bolts 2e or 25 of locks inclosedin casiugs 26 27. By this simple means the leverarm may be locked ineither one of its two positions, and by forming the bolts 24: 25 and thearm 22 inclined, as shown, the locking will be automaticallyaccomplished, as will be obvious.` Eachof the locks will be providedwith a keyhole, through which the key may be inserted for releasing thearm. By this simple arrangement the switch may be thrown into either ofits two positions and quickly locked by merely moving the lockingleverinto its downward position or permitting it to drop the notched arm, asbefore described, automatically engaging the lockingbolt concealedwithin the stand.v

This makes a very cheaply-constructed and easily-operated device for thepurposes described and may be readily adapted to all the various formsot switches now in use.

Any desired form of lock may be used within the stand and tted for anyform of key and IDO may be so arranged that one locking means may beemployed for action upon the leverarm in both of its two positions.

Various changes in the form, proportions, and minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the principle ofthe invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is l. Thecombination with a switch-stand having a closed interior and providedwith spaced radial recesses, a target-rod supported for rotation in saidstand, a sleeve slidable upon said rod. and partaking of its motion andprovided with radial lugs for engagement with said radial recesses, alever-arm connected to move said sleeve longitudinally of said rod, andlocking means within said closed switch-stand for engagement with saidleverarm to maintain it in its several positions.

2. The combination with a switch-stand having a closed interior andprovided with spaced radial recesses, a target-rod supported forrotation in said stand, a sleeve slidable upon said rod and partaking ofits motion and provided with radial lugs for engagement with said radialrecesses, a lever-arm connected to move said sleeve longitudinally ofsaid rod, and having recessed lateral lugs for projection throughapertures in said switchstand, and locks Within said stand for e11-gagement with said lugs, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a switch-stand having a closed interior andprovided with spaced radial recesses, a target-rod supported forrotationin said stand, a sleeve slidable upon said rod and partaking ofits motion and provided with radial lugs for engagement with said radialrecesses, a lever-arm pivotally connected with said target-rod andmovably connected with said sleeve, and locking means Within said standfor engagement with said lever to maintain it in its several positions,substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH PERKINS FRANKS.

W'itn esses:

G. W. HADDocK, J. W. VICKERY.

